Master Sgt. Cheryl Gehring, Field Service Support Element Manager, Directorate of Personnel Services

Published June 25, 2009

ARPC Spotlight -- Master Sgt. Cheryl Gehring, Field Service Support Element manager in the Directorate of Personnel Services, is the ARPC Spotlight of the Week.

Sergeant Gehring enlisted in the Air Force in 1975. She became a reservist in 1979. In May 1999, Sergeant Gehring transferred to Air Force Reserve Active Guard and Reserve, and to the Air National Guard AGR in January 2008. She is originally from Greenfield, Mass., and enjoys gardening, biking, hiking, reading and baking.

What is your most memorable Air Force experience?

I have two. One was an incentive flight from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, on a B-52. I received it as Airman of the Quarter and got to stay there over the weekend and fly back.

The second was my tour in Berlin, Germany, at Templehof. The history there was incredible and the job was fascinating. There are several of us from the 6912th Security Squadron who still stay in touch after 30 years. I had a wonderful tour there and learned a lot.

Why did you join the Air Force?

I had finished a year at the local community college and wasn't really focused on school. I was actually on my way to the second floor unemployment office and noticed the recruiter offices on the first floor.

Jobs were scarce in our small western Massachusetts town, and I wanted to further my education and "see the world." The Air Force was least pushy so I signed up for delayed enlistment. It was right at the end of the Vietnam War so the military wasn't very popular. Because I wasn't sure what I was getting into, I didn't tell anyone and then the recruiter put in the local newspaper "Greenfield Woman Enlists." I never looked back.

If you could change one thing about the Air Force what would it be?

I've seen too many people advance and many careers jeopardized because of who they did or did not know. That's a good thing if you deserve the job or the rank but just because you know the right people - it's just wrong and unfair.

If you were not in the military, where would you be?

I was part owner in a travel business as a reservist for 13 years before becoming an AGR and had a wonderful experience. "Back in the day" that was the only source of making travel arrangements so we got lots of perks and could be very creative. That's when I saw the world.

What would you like to do when you retire?

My goal is to be of service in the church, my child's school, and the homeless community. When home, I'll be in the garden or kitchen.